Ventilating apparatus



July 25, 1967 H. F. HILLSTROM VENTILAT ING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1965 PRIOR ART INVENTOR. Huco F H/LLSTROM BY WWJMV ATTOANEKS y 25, 1967 H. F. HILLSTROM 3,332,335

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

E g HUGO F HILLSTPOM W%/%MMW J Arron/vans United States Patent 3,332,335 VENTILATING APPARATUS Hugo F. Hiilstrom, Rte. 2, Box 12, Cokato, Minn. 55321 Filed July 9, 1965, Ser. No. 470,348 4 Claims. (c1. 98-121) The present invention pertains to a new and improved ventilating apparatus and more particularly to a ventilat ing apparatus which restricts the passage of light therethrough while freely admitting air.

In prior art light restricting ventilators a plurality of V-shaped louvers are positioned in semi-nesting relationship across one end of a substantially box-shaped enclosure with the ventilating fan drawing air from the enclosure at the other end thereof. The louvers are further positioned with the apex of the V directed vertically upward and they are formed into two rows so that air flows therebetween while the passage of light is substantially prevented. It has been found that this prior art device does not operate efiiciently because dust carried by the air passing through the maze of louvers has a tendency to settle out between the louvers, which in time restricts the movement of air therebetween. The dust between these louvers is difiicult to remove since the entire ventilating assembly must be taken apart to clean between the louvers.

Further, as air passes through the maze of louvers it is directed downwardly into the enclosure after which it is drawn upwardly through the ventilating fan. Because of this movement of the air there is a great tendency for dust to settle and collect in the space at the bottom of the enclosure between the downwardly directed louvers and the ventilating fan. As this space fills with dust the capacity of air which the ventilator can pass is greatly reduced and, therefore, the efiiciency of the ventilator is greatly reduced. A further disadvantage of the prior art lies in the fact that the capacity of the ventilator cannot be easily increased, that is a large increase in ventilator area produces only a small increase in air capacity.

In the present ventilating apparatus a plurality of louvers having substantially V-shaped cross sections are positioned in semi-nesting relationship to form groups which are then connected in end-to-end relationship to form the sides of an enclosure. The enclosure is generally cylindrical and the cross section may take on any geometrical shape such as round, rectangular, etc. In this embodiment the louvers are positioned so the apex of the V is directed toward one end of the enclosure and that end has a cover removably attached so that the assembly may be easily cleaned. The opposite end of the enclosure has a standard ventilating fan attached thereto for drawing out air. Because each of the louvers is directed with its apex towards the outer end of the enclosure the air passing between the groups of louvers is directed toward the ventilating fan from all sides of the enclosure. Thus, there is no area in which dust carried by the air may settle and consequently it is carried out through the ventilating fan. Also, the capacity of the present ventilating apparatus can be easily changed by the manufacturer without greatly increasing the size of the apparatus by simply varying the length, width or height of the enclosure slightly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ventilating apparatus.

-It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilating apparatus which freely admits air while substantially preventing the passage of light therethrough.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilating apparatus which does not clog with dust, etc.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilating apparatus which can be easily and quickly cleaned.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide 3,332,335 Patented July 25, 1967 a ventilating apparatus which can be manufactured with a variety of air capacities with very little change in dimensions.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skiled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the present apparatus, parts thereof broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of a corner of the present apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a slightly altered embodiment of the present apparatus, parts thereof broken away; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view indicating the air flow in a prior art apparatus.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a prior art device to illustrate the air flow therethrough. In FIG. 6 a first group of louvers having a V-shaped cross section are designated with the numeral 10. The louvers are mounted in a semi-nesting position with the apex of the V directly vertically upward. A second group of louvers 11 which is similar to the group 10' is positioned parallel and adjacent to the first group. In addition, the two groups of louvers 10 and 11 form one end of an enclosure 12 which has a conventional ventilating fan 13 positioned at the opposite end thereof. It can be seen from FIG. 6 that the air entering the maze of louvers 10 and 11 is directed downwardly in the enclosure 12 and then upwardly toward the fan 13, which is situated approximately centrally in the rearmost end of enclosure 12. Because of the movement of the air through the groups of louvers 10 and 11 there is a tendency for dust in the air to precipitate into the areas designated 14 between the groups of louvers 10 and 11. Also, since the air is directed downwardly as it leaves the inner group of louvers 11 there is a tendency for dust in the air to precipitate into the lower portion of the enclosure 12 indicated by the dotted line 15. As dust builds up between the groups of louvers 10 and 11 and in the area 15 the amount of air eventually reaching the ventilating motor 13 is greatly reduced.

In FIGS. 1-4 the present ventilating apparatus is illustrated as a box-shaped enclosure 20 having four substantially equal sidewalls 21, an outer end 22 and an inner end 23. It should be understood that while the enclosure 20 is illustrated as a six-sided, box-shaped apparatus it could have any number of sidewalls and might in fact have a circular axial cross section.

Each of the sidewalls 21 of the enclosure 20 is composed of a plurality of louvers 25 which have a substantially V-shaped cross section, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The louvers 25 are mounted in semi-nesting relationship so that air can pass freely therebetween while the passage of light is substantially prevented. The groups of louvers 25 forming one of the sidewalls 21 of the enclosure 20 are fixedly attached together at their ends by an angle iron 26 or the like having a substantially L-shaped cross section. In this embodiment the angle iron 26 is positioned with the apex directed inwardly toward the center of the enclosure 20 and the ends of all of the louvers 25 forming one sidewall 21 fixedly attached along one leg by some means such as welding or the like and the ends of all of the louvers 25 forming an adjacent sidewall 21 fixedly attached to the other leg thereof. In this fashion there is no corner inside of the enclosure 20 in which dust and other debris can collect. Where the ends of the louvers 25 are adjacent they are cut at an angle and fixedly attached in abutting relationship to form a smooth continuous surface, as shown in FIG. 4.

The uppermost portion of the outer edge of each of the louvers 25, which is designated numeral 27, is bent outwardly at an angle substantially perpendicular to a plane passing longitudinally through the group of louvers containing the bent louver. That is, all of the louvers in any particular sidewall 21 have the uppermost portion 27 of their outer edges bent perpendicular to a plane containing that particular sidewall 21. It should be understood that the bent portion 27 of the louvers 25 is not required but it does aid in diffusing light which might pass through the louvers 25 due to collection of dust, etc. Also, the bent portion 27 of the louvers 25 has a tendency to direct more air inwardly toward the louvers 25. An example of the direction of reflection encountered by light rays incident upon the louvers 25 is depicted by arrows 28, exemplary of two light beams entering louvers 25 at different angles, in FIG. 3. The relatively free admission of air between louvers 25 is illustrated by arrows 29 in FIG. 2.

The last louver, or the louver adjacent the end 22 in each of the groups of louvers making up the sidewalls 21 is designated 39 in the drawings and is constructed slightly different than the other louvers 25. The inner edge of the louver 30 is somewhat longer than the inner edge of the louvers 25 and has two bends therein, The first bend is such that a portion 31 spaced from the upper edge of the louver 30 extends at an angle approximately perpendicular to a plane extending longitudinally through the louver 30 and the louvers 25 in this same group of louvers. The second bend is spaced from the first bend the width of the portion 31 and is at a 90 angle so that an extreme end portion 32 of the louver 30 extends in a plane parallel to the plane just described.

The louver 30 having the bent portions 31 and 32 therein serves as apparatus to receive the outer end 22 which is actually a removable cover and will be so designated hereafter. Removable cover 22 has a handle 35 for convenience in removal and handling thereof. The edges of the cover 22 has two 90 bends therein spaced slightly apart to produce a first portion 36 of cover 22 extending rearwardly perpendicular to the surface of the cover 22 and a second portion 37 extending from the rearmost edge of the portion 36 perpendicular thereto and parallel to the surface of the cover 22. The portion 36 of cover 22 is approximately the same size as the portion 32 of louver 30 while the portion 37 of cover 22 is approximately the same size as the portion 31 of louver 30. Thus, when the cover 22 is correctly positioned on the end of the enclosure 20 the portion 37 of the cover 22 is in abutting relation with the portion 31 of louver 30 while the portions 32 and 36 are spaced apart. Thus, referring to FIG. 3 it can be seen that light is effectively prevented from entering the enclosure 20 around the edges of the cover 22.

The cover 22 is maintained in place by a pair of clamps 40 positioned slightly above center on the louvers 30 at each side of the handle 35. The clamps 40 have a base portion 41 which is fixedly attached to the louvers 30 adjacent the cover 22 and outside the enclosure 20. One end of a leaf spring 42 is fixedly attached to the base member 41 for pivotal movement of the other end relative thereto. A third member 43 is pivotally attached to the free end of the leaf spring 42 so that a portion thereof extends between the leaf spring 42 and the base 41, thereby, maintaining the free end of the leaf spring 42 pivoted outwardly from the base 41. The other end of the member 43 extends outwardly away from the louver 30 and overlaps a small portion of the cover 22. The end of the member 43 overlapping the cover 22 is slightly arcuate to aid in manual gripping thereof. The clamp 40 is positioned with respect to the louver 30 and the cover 22 so that the left edge of the member 43 butts against the base 41 while a portion adjacent the right end thereof butts against the front surface of the cover 22, in FIG. 3. The leaf spring 42 provides a force against the member 43 which is directed inwardly thereby maintaining the cover 22 fixedly in place. To remove the cover 22 the member 43 is gripped at its arcuate end and pivoted in a clockwise direction, in FIG. 3, whereby the spring 42 holds the member 43 against the side of the louver 3t and the cover 22 can be removed.

The rear end 23 of the enclosure 20 is adapted to have a commercially available ventilating fan attached thereto and consists of a piece of metal 45 having the outermost edges turned slightly inwardly and fixedly attached to the innermost edges of the last louver 25 by some means such as welding or the like. The piece of metal 45 has a substantially centrally located hole 46 therein of a size to receive a ventilating fan, generally designated 47, therein. Portions of the fan 47 are broken away and not shown in this disclosure since the form they take is not a part of this invention. The edges of the metal plate 45 around the hole 46 are flanged outwardly to mate with the outer surface of the fan 47 and are attached thereto by some convenient means such as welding or the like. The fan 47 has a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers 48 which are mounted in the portion of the fan 47 adjacent the hole 46. The louvers 48 are pivoted so as to effectively close the hole 46 when the fan 47 is de-energized and to pivot upward in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2, when the fan 47 is energized thereby presenting very little obstruction to the passageway of air therethrough.

FIG. 5 illustrates a different embodiment of the present ventilating apparatus in which the vertical sidewalls 21' have been increased in length and all of the sidewalls 21 have been decreased somewhat in width. Thus, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 does not extend as far into the room but has substantially the same air capacity. This embodiment serves to illustrate the ease with which a manufacturer can construct the present ventilating apparatus to accommodate various requirements.

Thus, the present ventilating apparatus is constructed so that there are no corners to fill with dust and consequently reduce the passage of air therethrough. Also, the air enters the ventilator apparatus from all sides and is directed at the ventilator fan so that there is less obstruction to the air and dust is drawn out through the ventilator fan rather than settling in the bottom of the ventilator apparatus. In addition to the above advantages the present ventilator apparatus has an easily removable cover so that the inside can be periodically cleaned with ease, thereby, providing additional assurance that dust will not build up therein. Also, the present ventilator apparatus is more easily adapted to a variety of uses and situations because of the ease with which the manufacturer can alter the dimensions.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of this invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Light restricting ventilating apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of louvers having a generally V-shaped cross section;

(b) means connecting said louvers in a semi-nesting relationship for freely admitting air therebetween but substantially preventing the passage of light and further connecting said louvers for forming the walls of a substantially cylindrical enclosure;

(c) a removable cover attached to one end of said enclosure;

(d) a second end of said enclosure constructed to allow air to pass therethrough and adapted to have attached thereto a ventilating fan; and

(c) said louvers being further connected so the openings therebetween at the inner side of said walls are directed toward said second end and the apex of the louvers are directed toward said one end.

2. The light restricting ventilating apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the uppermost portion of the outer edge of each of the louvers is bent outwardly at an angle substantially perpendicular to a plane passing longitudinally through the group of louvers containing each said bent louver for increased prevention of the passage of light therebetween.

3. Light restricting ventilating apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of louvers having a generally V-shaped cross section;

(b) means connecting groups of said louvers in a seminesting relationship for freely admitting'air therebetween but substantially preventing the passage of light:

(c) said connecting means further connecting said groups in end-to-end relationship to form a plurality of sidewalls of an enclosure;

((1) a removable cover attached to one end of said enclosure;

(e) a second end of said enclosure constructed to allow air to pass therethrough and adapted to have attached thereto a ventilating fan; and

6 (f) said louvers being further connected so the openings therebetween as the inner side of said sidewalls are directed toward said second end and the apex of said louvers are directed toward said one end.

4. The light restricting ventilating apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the uppermost portion of the outer edge of each of the louvers is bent outwardly at an angle substantially perpendicular to a plane passing longitudinally through the group of louvers containing each said bent louver for increased prevention of the passage of light therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,323,978 12/1919 Gebhardt 98121 X 1,702,358 2/1929 Mitchell 981 14 X 2,102,681 12/1937 Curtis 98-114 2,493,123 1/1950 Essick 98-99.6 2,565,122 8/1951 Cowan 98121 X 2,868,106 1/1959 Knutson et al. 98-43 3,056,343 10/1962 Westerberg 98-121 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. LIGHT RESTRICTING VENTILATING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF LOUVERS HAVING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED CROSS SECTION; (B) MEANS CONNECTING SAID LOUVERS IN A SEMI-NESTING RELATIONSHIP FOR FREELY ADMITTING AIR THEREBETWEEN BUT SUBSTANTIALLY PREVENTING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT AND FURTHER CONNECTING SAID LOUVERS FOR FORMING THE WALLS OF A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ENCLOSURE; (C) A REMOVABLE COVER ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID ENCLOSURE; (D) A SECOND END OF SAID ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTED TO ALLOW AIR TO PASS THERETHROUGH AND ADAPTED TO HAVE ATTACHED THERETO A VENTILATING FAN; AND (E) SAID LOUVERS BEING FURTHER CONNECTED SO THE OPENINGS THEREBETWEEN AT THE INNER SIDE OF SAID WALLS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD SAID SECOND END AND THE APEX OF THE LOUVERS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD SAID ONE END. 